“There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2
“For it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:16
According to a recent New York Times article, people are joining the Roman Catholic Church in surprising numbers. This Easter, the Archdiocese of Detroit will receive 1,428 new Catholics into the church, its highest number in 21 years. Similar numbers can be seen in other archdiocese across America. But it’s not just Catholics seeing this surge among young people, especially young men. Conservative branches of all Christianity across many countries find their numbers swelling after years of loss.
While I can’t see myself ever becoming a Catholic, I understand the draw. I love visiting grand churches. On our recent visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico we popped into the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis Assisi. A beautiful and stately church founded in 1714, it was dedicated in 1887. It contains all the elements of grandeur – stained glass, colorful mosaics, glittering gold sacrament pieces, hand painted wood beams and more. Every cathedral I have visited left me with the intended emotion – a sense of God’s splendor and holiness. The rituals, liturgy and historicity of the Catholic church all envelope you in something other-worldly. A stark contrast to my reformed Presbyterian church which, while nicely constructed, lacks that same grandeur.
I believe that’s why so many young men are turning to this more structured religion. That sense of holiness of God and His awesome power and might are more easily grasped in such a setting. While at my church I can forget reverence and holiness until the service begins to unfold. My church is “just a building.” But it’s a building where we come to honor, learn about and serve our Holy God.
A Holy God Sanctifies
“Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” Leviticus 19:2
When God spoke these words to Moses, He had already spent several chapters of Leviticus instructing the Israelites on how to remain set apart from the ungodly world. From defining pure and impure sexual relations to bathing during a woman’s period and how to make sacrifices for sin, God was setting them on a path to holiness or sanctification. He defined Himself as Jehovah-mekoddishkem, the God who sanctifies. Following this statement in Leviticus 19:2 began the famous list of commandments Christians know so well today. But why?
Have you ever been in the presence of someone you really admire or someone famous? Many of us in those situations begin to compare our worthiness to them. We stand there in awe and wonder, having a desire to be just like them. Now transfer that to standing before God – the creator of all things seen and unseen. He commanded Moses to remove his sandals when approached on the mountain. Moses wasn’t allowed to see God lest he die from the magnitude of God’s glory.
Yet God, as I’ve written previously, constantly seeks us. Constantly draws near to us in relationship. But we are not worthy to have our sandals stand on His same ground. So, He sent His only Son to complete the first cleansing step. A sacrifice for our sins and a covering of righteousness only accomplished by the blood of Jesus. We can stand in God’s presence with our hands wrapped in Jesus’ who intercedes for us, lest we are overcome by God’s holiness.
Then, through our obedience and love for God, His Holy Spirit lives in us; transforming us, sanctifying us through His “rules” which set us apart from the world. Sets us closer to Him.
Aligned With Our Perfect God
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
Friend, God is perfect. Jesus is our holy, high priest who stands for us before our blindingly awesome and glorious God. Our faith is not a set of rules or rituals to follow. It’s a desire to be close to our holy God. It’s our chance at bringing us in alignment, and therefore giving us eternal peace and rest, with the only God who loves us and blesses us richly.
Each day we should seek holiness. Through our words, actions and thoughts the Holy Spirit prunes our dead pieces of the old self and encourages new blooms. I, for one, want to be one of those saints singing, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God,” when Jesus returns. To see His holiness in all its majesty and glory. I don’t need stained glass to seek that — only Jesus.
“There should be as much difference between the worldling and the Christian, as between hell and heaven, between destruction and eternal life.” Charles Spurgeon
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